THREE SHIPS HOLDS WORLD’S FIRST FACEBOOK WHISKY LOYALTY AUCTION 

Three Ships, South Africa’s most awarded whisky, has launched its Pioneering Auction on Facebook, a first of its kind for this social networking site.

Participants are required to comment on the auction post on the Three Ships Facebook page, pledging the number of days they are prepared to keep the Three Ships Facebook cover image on their profile page. The person with the highest number of days will win one of ten bottles of the limited-edition Three Ships 10-year-old single malt. The competition will run every Tuesday and Thursday until 7 November.

According to Marcel Swain, SA brand manager for Three Ships Whisky, Facebook loyalty is the currency for the Pioneering Auction and the brand is the first to do so on this popular social networking site.

“Three Ships whisky has always been a step ahead and created many firsts for the South African whisky industry. It’s only fitting that we have now become the first on Facebook to host such an auction. The Three Ships 10-year-old single malt is only made in very small quantities and 2013 marks the tenth year since the launch of the first 10-year-old in our portfolio of whiskies, which at the time was another first for the South African whisky industry.”

The Three Ships 10-year-old recently received gold at the 2013 San Francisco Spirits Competition. Only 8 000 were released in October last year.

The whisky was matured in American oak casks of different ages, with the older small wood contributing its exceptional smoothness while also imparting a slight sweetness to it.  It is a full-bodied and well-rounded whisky with a hint of peat and estery notes that add a slightly sweet fragrance hinting of dried fruit and fudge.

The ten most loyal Three Ships Whisky Facebook fans will each receive a bottle of the premium Three Ships 10-year-old-single malt, presented in customised packaging, once they have kept the Three Ships Facebook cover image on their Facebook profile for the duration of the days pledged.

https://www.facebook.com/ThreeShips

A Grand Finale for anCnoc and Peter Arkle

Whisky Unveils Last ‘Warehouses’ Instalment in Collaboration with Illustrator

anCnoc Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky has today (date) revealed the final design in the series of Limited Edition releases from its unique collaboration with internationally renowned Scottish illustrator, Peter Arkle.

Inspired by the warehouses at Knockdhu Distillery, the striking and contemporary design is rooted in Peter’s idea that the buildings are guarding the magic – and not just the whisky – hidden inside them. He believes that anCnoc would not be anCnoc without these historic buildings and so, for the first time, they take pride of place in the design of anCnoc’s packaging.

The anCnoc partnership with Arkle was launched last year and has seen the artist develop an exclusive range of limited edition designs based on aspects of Knockdhu Distillery – each with a different expression inside the bottle. These bold and fresh designs range from a bottle inspired by whisky’s fifth ingredient, ‘magic’; to showcasing the distillery’s charming character through an intricate interpretation of its bricks; to an evocative black and white illustration of anCnoc’s whisky casks.

The New York-based illustrator said: ‘I have really enjoyed working with anCnoc as a collaborative partner throughout the limited edition campaign. The whole project has been inspiring and a great creative challenge, and I’m delighted with the four finished products. My illustrations aim to capture how special and full of character anCnoc whisky is, and I couldn’t have done my job without the inspiration of the Knockdhu Distillery and its team. I hope anCnoc drinkers have enjoyed seeing all the designs roll out over the past two years as much as I have loved creating them.’

As with all the Peter Arkle editions, the liquid inside is as remarkable as the design. The final expression is a polished gold colour, with the scent of cut flowers and lemon meringue followed by a rich and firm-textured finish of dried fruit and caramel.

Gillian Gibson, anCnoc Brand Manager commented: ‘anCnoc has always been regarded as giving whisky drinkers a very contemporary experience of the tradition of malt whisky drinking and this final design by Peter really lives up to this promise. It’s a great way to end such a special partnership and we’re extremely proud of our four limited editions and the success they have enjoyed.It has been wonderful working with Peter and his designs have perfectly captured anCnoc’s modern side with a nod to its time-honoured traditions.’

Restricted to only 1000 cases, this limited edition will be available online and through specialist retailers in the UK as well as across the globe in the USA, Germany, Russia, Japan, Taiwan and Canada.

RRP: £49.99

We are down to the last 4 bottles of HH509!

Now would be a good time to snap up one of the last 4 remaining bottles of the legendary French Oak Cask HH509. Whisky legend Jim Murray named HH509 amongst his top 6 whiskies of the year in the 2013 Whisky Bible after it scored a record breaking 96.5/100. This is an incredible result when you consider that the highest score he has ever awarded a whisky is 97.5/100.

Only 501 of these bottles were made and when the last drop is gone, this legendary whisky will be lost forever.
This is your last chance to own a piece of Tasmanian whisky history.

Click here to purchase your bottle of HH509 before it is too late.

KILCHOMAN MACHIR BAY GIFT PACKS WITH TWO BRANDED GLASSES ARRIVED TO THE US 

We are pleased to announce the Kilchoman Machir Bay Gift Packs with two branded glasses are available now.

Kilchoman is treating us all to its core expression, Machir Bay, winner of the prestigious International Wines and Spirits Competition 2012 Gold Medal Best in Class in 2012 and the Artisan Whisky of the Year by Whisky Advocate.

Machir Bay 2013 is a vatting of 4 and 5 year old ex-Bourbon casks, with the 4 year casks being finished in Oloroso Sherry butts for 4 weeks until it’s bottled at 46% unchillfiltered – without any artificial color added, of course.

Machir Bay is truly one of a kind — when it is bottled, we are able to follow the development of the malt as it matures in the cask. You will be able to taste this year’s batch and if you were lucky enough to snag a bottle last year, you might even be able to join us in comparing it to that of 2012, seeing what difference one year of aging  has made.

On the nose, Kilchoman Machir Bay has a strong peaty aroma mixed a gentle complex blend of an assortment of fruits. On the palate, you’ll enjoy a hint of vanilla with a rich tropical fruit sensation and an intense sweetness, and the finish will leave you satisfied like a classic Islay malt – fresh, peaty with a long lingering finish.

We hope you are as excited as we are about this very special news!

RRP $ 58.99

The ImpEx Beverages Team

New Arrivals and Old Favorites Back in Stock at Mora’s Fine Wine & Spirits (E. Setauket, New York)

Laphroaig Cairdeas Port Wood Edition Single Malt Scotch 102.6 Proof – $79.99 (6 bottles in stock, extremely limited!)

Old Pulteney Navigator Single Malt Scotch 92 Proof – $49.99 (12 bottles in stock)

Bruichladdich Rocks Single Malt Scotch 92 Proof – $38.24 ON SALE! (10 bottles in stock)

AnCnoc 22 Year Old Single Malt Scotch 92 Proof – $128.99 (4 bottles in stock)

Mora’s Fine Wine & Spirits

www.moraswines.com

631-941-4458

sev.clemens@moraswines.com

Benriach Whiskies

Benriach was founded in 1898 by John Duff, who also had founded Longmorn distillery next door. The clarity of the water and access to the Great North of Scotland Railway prompted the decision for the location. The distillery closed in 1900 after just two years of production, following the Pattison Crash and it remained silent until 1965, except for its floor maltings, which continued to supply Longmorn distillery through out the period of closure. The floor maltings were closed in 1999 after 101 years in production, although they remain in good working order and could be used again. It ceased production in 2002, but was bought in 2004 by a private group who commenced production once again.

www.signlemaltsdirect.com

Nabil has dusted off his keyboard and written a wonderful travel report about his visit to Islay on the quest to see his own cask.

The E-pistle 

The Macallan Unveils M

A collaboration between three masters: The Macallan, Fabien Baron & Lalique

In a collaboration between three masters of their crafts, The Macallan has unveiled a limited edition luxury decanter, M.  Partnering with renowned creative director Fabien Baron and crystal makers Lalique, The Macallan has created a beautifully designed and meticulously crafted crystal decanter containing precious and complex Macallan single malt whisky.

Just 1,750 crystal decanters of M, each engraved with its own individual number, are available worldwide.  M’s whisky draws upon The Macallan’s classic full flavoured tradition with notes of abundant dried fruits, spices and orange citrus.  With a rich natural colour, complexity and sumptuous intensity, the single malt is laden with character absorbed from the Spanish sherry oak casks that nurture it through the maturation process. 

David Cox, Director of Fine and Rare, The Macallan, comments: “The coming together of three such masters has resulted in a truly beautiful creation, which specifically showcases the vital influence of The Macallan’s exceptional sherry seasoned oak casks and the craft of the Whisky Maker.  The natural colour of M is stunning. A single malt of the most exquisite complexity and character, M will set a new standard in the world of decanters to become the iconic representation of The Macallan.”

Capturing the expressive aesthetic of Fabien Baron’s illustrious creative vision, M’s tall, slim dimensions and geometric form challenge the perceptions of traditional decanter design. Its sharp, angular facets gave inspiration to the name M itself, selected by Baron as a typographic representation of the decanter’s striking design.

Its six striking facets are Baron’s homage to The Macallan’s heritage, reflecting the six pillars at the heart of its ethos: The Spiritual Home – the breathtaking 390-acre Macallan Speyside estate where M was created; the distillery’s Curiously Small Stills, whose unique shape gives the spirit its fruity, rich character; The Finest Cut, the 16% of the new make spirit, the smallest figure in the industry, selected for maturation; Exceptional Oak Casks, acquired and cared for without thought to the cost,  imparting its distinctive characteristics and flavour; Natural Colour created purely through the interaction between spirit and wood; and The Peerless Spirit, marking The Macallan’s unsurpassed place in the hearts of the world’s most discerning whisky drinkers. 

Lalique has drawn on 150 years of crystal making,  and its long standing relationship with The Macallan, to present M with flawless clarity. Fashioned in highest grade crystal, each hand crafted decanter unites proven tradition with striking originality. 

Silvio Denz, President and CEO of Lalique, comments: “We have been delighted to have worked with our friends and long-time partners, The Macallan – with whom we have collaborated since 2004 – to realise this exquisite piece. The decanter styling is utterly unique in the world of decanters, and our masters of crystal have relished applying their most complex skills to this project to bring it to life.”  

Fabien Baron, Founder and Creative Director of Baron & Baron comments: “I love the craftsmanship and purity of The Macallan. It’s rare to find that level of quality today.” 

M is available at specialist whisky retailers in the UK from October, RRP £3000.

NOTES TO EDITORS

M Tasting Notes

• Colour: Rosewood
• Nose:  dried fruits ripen, then soften showing off a velvet sateen. Vanilla accompanies green apple hand in hand neither taking the lead. Ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon create an ensemble in the background, with polished oak offering to overstate yet never does but plays with a depth of resinous, juicy oranges
• Palate: opens rich in wood spices slowly showing all their viscosity. Wood smoke flits in and out. The heavier raisin and sultana flavours then take over, meandering to a long full finish
• 44.7% abv

ABOUT THE MACALLAN

Founded in 1824 in the heart of Speyside, The Macallan was one of the first distilleries in Scotland to be legally licensed. Since then it has built a reputation as one of the world’s leading single malt whiskies.  The creation of The Macallan draws on the vital contributing influences of Spain, North America and Scotland, and of their respective natural raw materials, combined with traditional methods and craftsmanship. From its founding, through the subsequent owners of The Macallan distillery in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and into the present century, The Macallan has been recognised for its outstanding quality above all else. Today this remains the foundation for the worldwide fame of The Macallan and is such that it is truly “The Last Word” in luxury and at the heart of those special moments brought alive over a glass of The Macallan.

ABOUT FABIEN BARON  

As the founder and creative director of Baron & Baron, Fabien Baron has crafted identities for the fash­ion, cosmetic and fragrance world’s most visible and influential brands. The creative director’s singular vision is evident in a broad range of award-winning advertising campaigns, package designs, logos and graphics. Baron has also applied his talents to the design of prominent magazines and books, including the role of Creative Director for Vogue Italia and Vogue Paris, and is renowned for his photography, as well as for directing ground breaking television commercials, music videos and online video content. Fabien Baron is currently the Editorial Director of Interview Magazine. 

ABOUT LALIQUE 

The LALIQUE story began with René Lalique (1860-1945), renowned as the inventor of modern jewellery who then became the Master in the art of glassmaking of the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements, with highly eclectic creations. René Lalique earned his title, “Sculpteur de Lumière”, from the richly sculptural craftsmanship and dramatic contrasts between clear and frosted finishes that define his work. Today, LALIQUE is internationally recognised as the undisputed Master of crystal, and offers crystal collections across five categories: decorative items, interior design, jewellery, art and fragrances.  The vision of LALIQUE is to celebrate the creative genius of founder René Lalique by pushing the limits of the factory by creating distinctive decorative objects, issuing superb perfume bottles in crystal, reviving breathtaking jewellery designs, carrying out major architectural projects, working with renowned artists to produce limited edition works of art in crystal; and recreate its cultural heritage, something eternally precious. LALIQUE continues to thrive as a global lifestyle luxury brand, standing for craftsmanship, excellence and creativity.

PLANS UNVEILED FOR GLASGOW SCOTCH WHISKY DISTILLERY AND VISITOR CENTRE 

A planning application has been submitted to establish a £10 million craft Scotch Whisky distillery and visitor centre on the banks of the River Clyde – the first distillery in the centre of Glasgow in over 100 years.

The application lays out plans for the transformation of the iconic “pump house” building, which sits between the Riverside Museum and the new Hydro arena. The plans include an interactive and education-focused visitor attraction and small batch single malt Scotch Whisky distillery complete with bar, café, tasting rooms and retail outlet.

The project, supported by Scottish Enterprise, has been developed by a small group of industry experts, led by Tim Morrison – formerly of Morrison Bowmore Distillers and current proprietor of the AD Rattray Scotch Whisky Company.

Tim Morrison said the development, which aims to educate visitors about the history of Scotland’s national drink and its production, will play a key role in regenerating the Clydeside area. During the building and construction phase, it will support up to 300 jobs, and once complete, the distillery and visitor experience will employ up to 25 permanent members of staff.

Subject to planning approval, work on the first phase of the project – the distillery building, interactive visitor centre and café – is due to get underway with immediate effect.  The second phase – which will see the fitting of the distillery equipment and stills – will be complete by mid-2015.

Commenting on the planning application, Tim Morrison said: “We see this project as having huge potential – not only for Glasgow, but for the tourism industry, the Scotch Whisky trade and the whole Scottish economy.   Our vision for the new distillery and educational visitor centre is that it becomes a part of Glasgow’s busy tourist trail – we anticipate it will attract more than 50,000 visitors each year.

“We’ve had a great deal of support for this project so far – from local businesses, the public sector and those within the industry, and we have taken the next important step in helping to make this project a reality by submitting a full planning application to Glasgow City Council for consideration.

Tim Morrison added that the team could not have chosen a more appropriate site for this development as the pump house played a historically significant role in the Scotch Whisky trade on the Clyde.

“In the past, this building controlled the entry gate into the Queens dock, ensuring customs and excise could keep a close eye on goods in and out, including Scotch Whisky, so we are proud to bringing it back to similar good use”, he explained.

MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Sandra White said:

“Having met and discussed these proposals with a delegation representing the proposed ‘pump house’ development, I was extremely impressed with the plans and enthusiasm shown. I truly believe this is a fantastic opportunity to re-establish Glasgow’s historic whisky

TRICK OR TREAT: HALLOWEEN RECOMENDATIONS 

Trick or Treat…. with Halloween just around the corner, we’re recommending some devlish and angelic pairings and bottles.

Spicy & Sweet

G10.4 A witch’s Christmas tipple
The palate had unexpected medicinal impact (cough syrup, Lockets) and a broomstick whoosh of an impressive dark sweetness £61.20

BUY

Sweet, fruity & mellow

7.91 & 35.92 Bewitching Sweetness
Enjoy the sweet, fruity and mellow character of this bewitching pair… £157.77

BUY

Heavily peated with Juicy, oak & vanilla

64.45 & 53.176 Pleasure & Pain
So much pleasure, where’s the pain? Be dominated by this extreme pairing. £135.70

BUY

Peated with Sweet, fruity & mellow

9.72 &  3.193 Baby-faced honeyed arsonist
Just what the doctor ordered, we love this lemon and honey medicine alongside this firery, baby arsonist £130.00

BUY

Browse all bottlings

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at http://www.smws.co.uk/memberships for your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers.

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video